Duncan’s bill makes two significant changes to the regulation of rail. It requires a mandatory federal environmental assessment (with a public engagement component) of all rail activities that pose significant risk to the environment, human life or public health. Additionally, it creates a level of certification that will be required for rail companies who wish to transport specified volumes of dangerous cargo.

“These reforms will give Canadians a say in how dangerous goods move through their communities by rail," said Duncan. "With the National Energy Board forecasting a ten-fold increase of dangerous goods by rail over the next 25 years, we need to be proactive and prevent the impacts of rail disasters on the scale of Lac-Mégantic."